There’s no doubt that the turbulent events of the last 18 months have led to the massive disruption of many key supply chains – a now well-known range of simultaneous issues prompting unprecedented measures across the industry.
The combination of office, home and remote working is now very much the norm, a situation that would have been unthinkable less than two years ago.
For over two decades, Fargo Systems has partnered with its customers across the multimodal industry to ensure the right mix of integrated software solutions are deployed to hauliers, rail operators, freight forwarders, container depots, 3PLs, retailers and manufacturers.
Fargo Systems director Steve Collins says: “The positive benefits of flexible working access are the cornerstones of our TopsTMS® technology. Our Cloud TOPS platform makes it easy for people to connect and work from wherever they are, from TOPS…on the go, TOPS ePOD to TOPS Anywhere. The TOPS Anywhere App provides a solution to the transport operator to easily view information on live jobs to service queries from a customer or a driver perspective.”
He continues: “During these challenging times, what has become apparent is that companies are keener than ever to find smarter ways of working to help their business thrive. It stands to reason that logistics firms with robust technological capabilities that allow them to move data around the supply chain seamlessly are at an advantage now and in the future.”
Grays based Evolution Connection is one such company. Having come on board as a Fargo Systems client during the pandemic, Evolution Connection has invested in TOPS and TOPS…on the go. Managing director of Evolution Connection, Ricky Fernando, says: “Covid reinforced our need to invest in a transport management system.
Now, we can electronically send delivery instructions, receive status updates, track our vehicles, and seamlessly capture PODS by the camera capture or on-screen signature functionality, both of which upload back to TOPS. We are the most efficient we’ve ever been.”
Fargo’s logistics software has also been instrumental in helping customers grow their business during these COVID times. TOPS’ user VKVP Haulage has recently expanded its use of Fargo’s technology from nine users to 14. Operations director Mark Bennett explains the advantages TOPS brings to his company: “Since using TOPS transport management system, our operational visibility and efficiency has allowed us to take our business to the next level.
Mark elaborates: “Since implementing TOPS in October 2017, we have been able to develop our fleet investment programme and steadily increase our organisation. We are now in the best position possible and fully prepared to meet industry challenges head-on, now and in the future.”
Steve Collins continues: “Of our long-standing clients, Macintyre Transport epitomises the benefits of remote access technologies and the efficiencies achieved through embracing TOPS.”
Having adopted TOPS 11 years ago, 2019 saw the company roll out the latest version of TOPS… on the go across its 215 strong fleet. Piers Kilfoyle, operations manager of the Suffolk-based logistics company, explains. “Last year’s roll-out was a six-figure sum investment for us. Our aim was for TOPS…on the go to create a totally paperless process, from start to finish, and to work seamlessly across our five depots. A year on and the technology has exceeded our expectations on every level. We were hoping it was going to be a gamechanger, but in today’s global marketplace, it’s a business essential.”
Steve continues: “With companies increasingly understanding that remote integration is a ubiquitous component of the logistics sector, our job is to reassure them of the resilience and robustness of the technology and how it delivers total visibility, reliability, and confidence to their customers.”